Welcome to the Fire Information Blog for the South Central Oregon Fire Management Partnership (SCOFMP).

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Lightning starts new fires but didn’t push Blanket Creek

Thunderstorms
moving southwest across the Blanket Creek Fire Monday afternoon dropped up to ¼
inch of rain on some of the fire area, which temporarily increased humidity.Even with slight wetting, the large woody fuels
are still extremely dry.The outskirts
of the thunder cells released lightning and strong, erratic wind gusts.

As the Incident
Meteorologist announced over the radio that cells were approaching, each
Division affirmed they were aware.Firefighters
took shelter in safe locations, resuming work when the threat passed.Some precipitation fell on the lower parts of
the fire, but none on the higher areas.There were no changes in fire size due to the storms.

Thirteen new
fires started on the High Cascades Ranger District of the Rogue River Siskiyou
National Forest and at least five started on Oregon Department of Forestry
(ODF) protected land in this area.A
fire at Flounce Rock, across Lost Creek Lake from the Incident Command Post,
quickly grew to 250 acres.Two Type 1
heavy helicopters from the Blanket Creek Fire assisted in that response.

Within our own fire
boundaries, the Blanket Creek Fire is 4,739 acres and 36% contained.Crews are making progress working their way
down the ridge, securing the fire that’s located in Lick Creek.Spot fires continue to be detected, quieted
with bucket drops of water, and lined.The area requires focused attention, and the safe slow work of
installing handline and hoselays through varying fuels and steep complex
terrain takes time.Managers are not retreating
to the larger alternate plan for indirect fireline along the 6215 Ginko Road
system at this time, but these contingency lines continue to be prepared if
needed.

Crews continue
to seek a safe route to contain the eastern edge of the fire within Crater Lake
National Park.They are avoiding dense
patches of snags from the Middle Fork Fire (2008), linking up natural barriers
like clearings and pumice meadows, proceeding eastward around the fire.

With clear
skies, direct sun will heat and dry the fire area starting early today.A Red Flag Warning cautions of “Abundant
Lightning and Dry Fuels” from noon to 10:00 pm.The storms are forecast to build east of the Blanket Creek Fire area and
move slowly west.

A community meeting
will take place at 6:00 pm tonight at the Multi-Purpose Room of the Charter School
in Prospect, Oregon.The school is
located at 160 Mill Creek Drive.This
meeting provides an opportunity for an in-person update about the fire status
and future strategies.

Fire at a
Glance

Size: 4,739
acres; 36% Contained

Location: 6
miles NE of Prospect, OR

Cause: Lightning,
Natural

Personnel: 791

Resources:

3 Type 1 Hotshot Crews

15 Type 2
Crews

21 Engines

11 Water Tenders

4 Dozers

14 Falling
Modules

11 Misc.
Heavy Equipment

Aircraft (shared with Spruce Lake):

4 Type 1 heavy helicopters

3 Type 2 medium helicopters

2 Type 3 light helicopters

Closures: The
Blanket Creek Fire vicinity is closed. The Closure Order and maps are on the
Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest website and Inciweb. Portions of the
Pacific Crest Trail and other trails are closed in Crater Lake National Park. See
maps on Inciweb.